One Masters student, a medical student, two law students and an undergraduate health studies and life sciences student will receive the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award this year 鈥 the highest tribute a Queen鈥檚 student can receive.
Thompson Hamilton, ArtSci鈥13, Law鈥16, Michael Coleman, Law鈥17, Catherine Wright, ArtSci鈥15, MIR鈥16, Graydon Simmons, Meds鈥16, and Jennifer Williams, ArtSci鈥16, will officially be inducted into the Tricolour Society at a ceremony on April 2.
The first Tricolour Award was handed out in 1940 and the list of past recipients reads like a who鈥檚 who of great Queen鈥檚 alumni. The list includes former governor of the Bank of Canada and Chancellor Emeritus David Dodge, Arts鈥65, former Member of Parliament and 鈥渢he father of the Canadian Flag鈥 John Matheson, Arts鈥40, Emmy-winning filmmaker Peter Raymont, Arts鈥72, successful entrepreneur and star of CBC TV鈥檚 Dragon鈥檚 Den Michele Romanow, Sc鈥07, MBA鈥08, award-winning author and Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson,Arts'71, and Queen鈥檚 first female Chancellor Agnes Benidickson (who was honoured in 1941 when it was known as the Tricolour Award).
Graydon knows the history behind the award and is honoured to now be a part of it.
鈥淨ueen鈥檚 has done so much for me. The award motivates me to keep contributing to the Queen's community to make it a better place,鈥 says Graydon. 鈥淕reat communities like Queen's run on a culture of people giving back. When I look around at so many of the things that make Queen's special, they exist because certain people took the time and effort to be involved in the community.鈥
Graydon was involved with the School of Medicine student government for four years. He coordinated the School of Medicine Orientation Week, worked on the Medical Variety Night and worked on curriculum development within the School of Medicine.
Like Graydon, Jennifer also felt honoured when she learned she was one of this year鈥檚 honourees.
Jennifer was actively involved with the Alma Mater Society and helped expand Orientation week. One accomplishment she is proud is creating Majors Night where first-year Arts and Science students meet and get advice from upper-year students.
鈥淚 had heard from peers and students I have mentored that the process for choosing a plan can be sometimes stressful and confusing. Last year鈥檚 inaugural Majors Night brought in just over 1,000 first-year Arts and Science students. My hope is that this program will continue to run in the future as a new long-standing tradition of support,鈥 says Jennifer.
Michael is being honoured for being a tireless champion for equity and diversity both inside the Faculty of Law and in the Kingston community. He was a prison inmate tutor, co-president for the Black Law Students Association and served as a student advisor for the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) and co-commissioner of Queen鈥檚 Law Equity and Diversity.
Thompson was chair of the AMS Judicial Committee, served as Vice President of SGPS, and spent several years with Queen鈥檚 Legal Aid.
Catherine was the AMS Municipal Affairs Commissioner and helped establish the 鈥淯niversity District鈥 street signs. The area was previously referred to as the 鈥渟tudent ghetto鈥 but Catherine wanted to promote a more positive image and foster better relations between students and the community.
The Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award is given annually by the Office of the Rector to students based on 鈥渧aluable and distinguished service to the university in non-athletic, extra-curricular activities.鈥
The Tricolour Society served as a model for Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, which John Matheson, Arts鈥40, helped establish in 1967 as a Member of Parliament.
